Thomas Hatch held down the Generals for five innings before finally yielding a run in the 6th, but the Smokies bats also woke up in the same inning, as Erick Castillo drilled a two-run homer down the left field line in the bottom half. Tennessee would add a pair of insurance runs the next inning.
Your browser does not support iframes.Top Performers

Thomas Hatch: 6 IP, 5 H, R, BB, 6 K (W, 8-5, 3.65)

Wyatt Short: 1.1 IP, K (4.07)

Zach Hedges: IP, 0 R (S, 1, 2.55)

Erick Castillo: 1-3, HR (2), R, 2 RBI (.197)

Yasiel Balaguert: 2-4, 2B, R, RBI (.234)

Trent Giambrone: 0-1, R, 3 BB, SB (24) (.256)

Zack Short: 1-3, BB (.239)

P.J. Higgins: 1-3, BB (.212)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Thomas Hatch

It has been an up-and-down-and-now-back-up-agains year for Thomas Hatch (133.1 IP, 117 H, 54 ER, 58 BB, 103 K). He has been difficult to hit all season but has struggled with his control at times, while also struggling to miss bats at others. Hatch has found his groove of late, however. Over his last 6 starts he has struck out 33 in 34 IP, while allowing just 8 runs on 23 hits and 14 walks (2.12 ERA). Hatch is showing he can hold up under a starter's workload this season If he can make even modest strides with his control next season it could have a big impact on his future value to the club.

Zack Short (.239/.362/.438) extended his hitting streak to 5 games. In addition to his 6 hits over this stretch he has also drawn 3 walks.

We've seen a more patient Trent Giambrone (.256/.326/.457) at the plate in the second half of the season. He drew only 19 walks in 64 first half games but has nearly equaled that total (15) in just 39 games in the second.

Erling Moreno kept the ball on the ground and Great Lakes off the scoreboard for six innings. The offense had given him a nice early 4-0 cushion. Ben Hecht did allow three runs in the 8th to put the game in doubt late, but Brian Glowicki came to the rescue, as he so often does, to earn his 17th save.

Top Performers

Erling Moreno: 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 4 K (W, 2-3, 3.34)

Brian Glowicki: 1.2 IP, BB, K (S, 17, 1.16)

Delvin Zinn: 2-3, RBI, BB, SB (3) (.271)

Brandon Hughes: 2-3, 2 R, BB, SB (21) (.229)

Jose Gutierrez: 2-4, SB (1) (.209)

Jimmy Herron: 1-3, BB, CS (3) (.274)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Delvin Zinn

Delvin Zinn (.271/.304/.294) has been red-hot of late at the plate, batting .333 over his last 10 games.

It was third consecutive stellar effort from ErlingMoreno, who has allowed just 1 run over his last 3 starts (19.2 IP). This was also the sixth consecutive start Moreno has completed 6 or more innings. Although he is issuing his share of free passes, Moreno is also inducing tons of early contact, most of it on the ground. This has made him one of the most efficient starters in the system in terms of P/PA.

The games between these two teams seem to always be tight, and this one was no different. Eric Gonzalez gave the Ems a short-lived 1-0 lead on a solo home run in the top of the 3rd. The Hops got the run right back in the bottom of the frame off Brailyn Marquez. They pushed across another two innings later to take the lead. Eugene would be shut down the rest of the way as they finished with just five hits and one walk in total on the night.

Top Performers

Brailyn Marquez: 6.2 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 6 K (L, 1-4, 3.21)

Stephen Ridings: 1.1 IP, H, BB, 2 K (3.72)

Eric Gonzalez: 2-3, HR (1), R, RBI

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Brailyn Marquez

Brailyn Marquez has gone 6 or more innings just 3 times as they have tried to limit the 19-year old's workload, but he has also given up 2 or fewer runs in all but 1 of his 10 starts this season. While his command is lacking, not really a surprise given his age, Marquez has shown above average control and his stuff is exciting. His fastball reaches 97-98, and he compliments it with a solid changeup, but his slurvy breaking ball has yet to become a consistent third offering. At this level, it has been enough though for Marquez to fan 52 batters in 47.2 innings, and earn a NWL All-Star Game berth last month.

Big (6'8" 220 pound) Stephen Ridings has honed his control of late and better results have followed. The 2016 8th rounder has now amassed 7 consecutive scoreless outings (14.0 IP, 8 H, 5 BB, 12 K). He gets similar extension as Dakota Mekkes with the way he drives off the mound and has been difficult to hit in his 51 career innings (.213 AVG) but walks have held him back until recently. He allowed 20 free passes in 22 innings last season, and 8 in his first 15 this season, before his most recent stretch.

Brady Miller (2017 - 23rd) earned his first professional save in the nightcap.

Yonathan Perlaza

Yonathan Perlaza (.317/.366/.407) continues to hit, with a .362 batting average over 15 games in August. One of the club's top signings in their 2015 IFA class, Perlaza had not been as successful at the plate over his first two seasons as they expected and then was slowed further by knee surgery this offseason, but the 19-year old 2B/3B appears to be back on track and is having a fine repeat season in the AZL. He should challenge for a job in South Bend to open 2019.

Switch-hitting SS Josue Huma (.270/.331/.376) hit his first home run of the season and second of his career. The 18-year old was one of the club's top IFA signings in the 2016-17 class when they were limited to 300K max bonuses. Huma has shown solid contact skills and plate discipline while also having a bit of success on the base paths.

Comments

Yeah, another good outing by Moreno. I follow SB on FB & saw their post. As with all of these young pitchers (Marquez) performing well at the lower levels, I can’t get too excited until they’re doing it at high A & AA. But they have to start somewhere, so it’s good to see.

Is it just me or does it seem like our Pitching across the board in the minors has really taken off this season? Based off of your comments Mike and looking at numbers, it appears that we have a number of candidates that could be MOR type guys if they continue to develop. Am I wrong on that? I certainly don’t watch them like you and numbers in the minors are deceiving, but at worst we should be encouraged about what is being developed at the lower levels.

I still think most of them top out as BOR types based off their stuff. Remember, Jen-Ho Tseng has won two Minor League Pitcher of the Year awards and put up great numbers all the way up the ladder.

Alzolay, Lange, Marquez, Steele, Uelmen, Little and maybe Rucker are the guys I believe have the stuff to be MOR guys. If they can get back on track you throw Albertos and ODLC in there too. Too early to say regarding R. Thompson, Paul Richan, Kohl Franklin and Chris Allen from draft class. Thompson has the stuff but control is an issue. Richan is too advanced for his level. Other two I haven't seen.

Rotation will have: Alzolay, Clifton, Rucker for sure IMO
Final two spots a competition between: Underwood Jr., Thompson, Hatch, Swarmer, Robinson, Mills, Tseng. With a couple moving to pen/swing role and a couple returning to AA. That is potentially 10 options or more (if including a guy like Farrell).

Pen: Maples, Mekkes, Norwood, R. Rosario, Hancock, C. Brooks. Even if Maples or someone else makes Chicago roster that is still great foundation, especially when a couple of those starters that get pushed to pen get mixed in as well.

Could also re-sign: Ryan and/or Baldanado as well

Webster, Williams and Hultzen could factor in as well depending on health and/or contract status.

Forgot to mention Garner could return from suspension, assuming he is good to go, and the team could re-sign Black as well and hope for better health luck next year too. Jose Rosario, recovering from TJS, could be another potential re-sign. All have very good arm talent.

Steele is pitching really well, and by next spring should be about 18 months after surgery. If he pitches well at Tenn then I don't see why he couldn't compete for the big club some time next year.
Our pitching outlook is pretty good right now. Maybe not #1, but we didn't think Hendricks would be as good as he is either.

My reaction on twitter:
Sorry to see Andruw Monasterio go.
Has the actions to play SS, but has never gotten extended look. Good hit and PD but lacks strength. Line drive hitter that should have plenty of gap pop down the road though. If he can master SS there is low-end starter upside. UT more likely. Was just updating my prospect rankings today and Monasterio came in at 43rd.

Very good new for me. Murphy is a proven hitter and veteran. He should help us, maybe not in the field but certainly at bat. This FO must be very worried about our offense to do this. I hope he plays tonight to pinch hit and hit a HR. I can dream, can't I?

Thanks for that scouting report Michael. Based on your reports (and John's in the past), that's pretty much the mental picture I had for him. Not a high-end prospect, but a guy I rooted for. Seems like a pretty decent hit tool and maybe a bench guy down the road. I hope he makes the show and maybe become a Bote type for someone (I was just hoping it to be the Cubs).